Corset



(No Model.)

L. s. WALKER.

CORSET.

Patented Apr. 5, 1898.

ami/ M05090 m: NORRIS PETERS cov PHOTO-HTML. WASHINGTON, D. c.

.NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

CORSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,722, dated April 5,1898. Application filed April 14., 1897. Serial No. 632,118. on model.)i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LILLIAN S. WALKER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCorsets, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadtherein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in a class of corsets particularlyadapted for use by those engaging in athletic exercisessuch asbicycle-riding, golf, tennis, the gymnasium,

-&c.-and has for its object the production of scribed, and moreparticularly pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a' View of the corset, partlybroken away in front to show more clearly the method of se-v curing thesame about the person, with the back lacing removed and the corsetspread out. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the frontsecuring portiononthe line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout both views.

In the accompanying drawings, a a denote combined front and sideportions of the corset, which are so constructed as to pass under thebust in such manner as to serve as a support for the same, and not overthe bust, as in the ordinary corsets. Each of these parts a, isprovided, at the top'and bottom thereof, with suitable slits or gores bb o c, which, by means of eyelets d d and a suitable ribbon or lacing,are used to adjust the corset to the person of the wearer.

e e are the back sections of the corset, which are adapted to be joinedtogether by means of a ribbon or lacing passed through the eyelets e e,as in the ordinary corsets. These back sections, however, are connectedto the parts aoby means of flexible panels f f,which, unlike theremaining parts of. the body of the corset, are without stiffening ofany kind, thus allowing increased freedom of movement without theslightest inconvenience.

- g g denote, respectively a hook and a stud as ordinarily employed tosecure the corset about the person. This securing device in the ordinarycorsets is not covered by a suitable shield for the protection of theouter garments, and consequently these garments are exposed to muchadditional wear and the danger of being torn by the studs. To guardagainst this undesirable yet common feature,

I provide the parts a a with independent flaps h h, which are designedto be drawn together over the hooks and studs 9 g by means of eyelets hh and a ribbon or lacing j, thus acting the double capacity as a shieldover the studs g for the protection of the outer garments and as anadjusting device for removing disfiguring'wrinkles from the sides of thecorset after the same has been donned by the wearer.

My improved corset, in so far as has not already been described, is usedas follows: The corset, after having been so adjusted by means of theeyelets d din the slits or-gores b b c c in each of the parts a. and theeyelets e in the back sections 6 and their respective ribbons or lacingsas to fit the person of the wearer as nearly perfectly as can possiblybe insured by this means, is donned and secured in front by means of thehooks g and studs g, the corset passing under the bust, as aforesaid, inorder to act as a bust-supporter and at the same time allow freeunrestricted movements on'the part of the wearer. The parts h h are thendrawn together over said hooks and studs by means of the eyelets h h andthe ribbon or lacing j to such a degree as is necessary to remove anywrinkles which may be left in the sides thereof, thus making aperfect-fitting corset.

The corset as heretofore described is particularly adapted for use bypersons engaging in athletic exercises, as by reason of its manner offitting the person and of the flexible panels ff, which, it can bereadily seen, tend to greatly diminish any inconvenience ordinarilyoccasioned by having the corset unifornily stifiened, it allows ofgreater freedom in all movements than the ordinary corsets.

Besides its utility as an athletic garment my improved corset is ofexceptional value as a bust developer and strengthener and is alsoadapted for use by young girls and as a hygienic corset.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as my invention, anddesire to have protected by Letters Patent, is-

The improvement in corsets comprising a means for uniting the parts infront consisting of a series of hooks g, studs 9, coveringfiaps 72, h,provided with rows of eyelets h h, and a lacing j, substantially asshown and 15 described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, this 10th dayof April, A. D, 1897, in the presence of two witnesses. to

LILLIAN S. WALKER.

Witnesses: I

N. LNFROTHINGHAM, PHILIP A. OARNEY.

